Becoming Magical [2]

C H A P T E R - 1 7

"That's a lot of bodyguards," Dex said as he stood next to Sophie at Silveny's pasture, watching a goblin who made Sandor look puny give orders to four others before they all raced away in opposite directions to resume their patrol. "Anything I should know about?"

"They're not for me, and I'm not allowed to say more than that."

The Council had ordered extreme silence when it came to what they had dubbed "the suspicious incident." No one was allowed to know of the possible threat to Silveny. The last thing they wanted was more paranoia spreading.

They even send Meredith to look after them all. Grady and Edaline had given her one of the guest rooms graciously and Meredith was settling in with her pet nuage, Dawn.

Dex sighed.

Sophie felt like doing the same.

She offered Silveny a handful of swizzlespice through the bars, but Silveny simply sniffed the air and stared at Dex.

Scared.

"Scared" was Silveny's new favorite word. She'd been transmitting it constantly for the last few days—when Sophie left her alone, when someone so much as breathed too close to her enclosure, when she wanted anything at all. And despite Sophie's renewed efforts to get Silveny to respond to someone besides her, the traumatized horse refused to get anywhere near anyone Sophie brought over. Meredith was yet to try.

Silveny even panicked around other animals. Especially Iggy—though it hadn't helped that the mischievous imp decided to launch one of his toxic Iggy-farts into Silveny's face when Sophie introduced them. Silveny had gagged for about ten minutes, and Sophie couldn't blame her.

At least it had been all quiet on the alicorn front since the extra goblins arrived. Not so much as a bent blade of grass had been found on the grounds for the last three days.

"Sorry I haven't been around this week," Dex mumbled, fidgeting with the silver band on his wrist. It was the Disneyland watch Sophie had given him at the end of midterms last year. "My parents needed me to help out at the store."

"You don't have to be sorry," Sophie said, feeling bad that she hadn't noticed. Thanks to Silveny and her nightmares Sophie had barely slept, and the exhaustion was starting to get to her. She'd even started to consider asking Elwin for an extremely mild sedative, but she was afraid he might want to examine her. And after her talk with Fitz she was afraid of what he might find.

It was easier not to know—at least for right now when she had so much to deal with. She hadn't had a headache since the aurenflare, so whatever the problem was, it couldn't be that big of a deal. She'd look into it later.

"But I like coming here," Dex said, interrupting her thoughts. His ears turned red and he added quickly, "It's nice to get a break from my parents. They've been a lot more annoying, ever since..... "

He glanced toward the Cliffside gate. Sophie felt a knot form in her throat.

"I knew I'd find you hard at work on your assignment," Alden said as he appeared behind them. "Sorry, I know I come unannounced. I have sort of a last-minute . . ."

His voice trailed off as Silveny flapped her wings and took off to circle her enclosure. "Such an incredible creature," Alden breathed.

Incredibly annoying was more like it.

"Sort of a last-minute . . . ?" Sophie prompted.

"Yes, right. Sorry. A last-minute assignment." He glanced at Dex. "I'm sorry, Dex, I need to discuss something classified with Sophie."